Terra Tenebrosa

Young Cuckoo, in his nest Devoured all its kin Pushed them out, one by one And flew, shedding its skinCuckoo then opened jaws Til all fell in its ways Indulged in every poison Just to see how it would taste Proud Cuckoo ventured next To take upon the King But “Only when you have lost all Shall you as regent sing”Cuckoo thus pursued the quest To travel o'er world Terra Tenebrosa: the dark earth Before his feet unfurled Down tar-trails into darkened woods And fields he did wander Staircases descending the abyss And stranger places yonder As boatsman of the unconscious, He rowed people to and fro Oft his boat was emptied As guests drowned in the undertowCuckoo saw the women Giving birth over the graves Saw humans binding themselves to fate Predestinated slavesLamenting all things perishable, Enscribed with mortal peck But no true beauty without decay Breathing down its neck The voyager returned from travel, Senses spent and weary, Eyes hollowed by all things seen ​ Yet refusing to unseeHis stomach bloat and sagged From all which he had ate Rich in wisdom he may be But also scorn and hate The present king bowed his head, His time had come to pass: ”Only one who embraces chaos Can rule unruly mass” As veil was lifted from his gaze, Crowned Cuckoo now could see Not until you give up all Is your spirit freeAnd truth speaks in splintered tongue, Through fog and filthy air: That soul is found in solitude And “I” mined from despair Elusive is the Cuckoo, Cunning in craft and trickery His roar withers into sobs, Then erupts in malicious glee Clamour, doom, demented cries, Disorder he has tamed Confusion made his masterpiece Terra Tenebrosa it was namedMany listeners came from far and wide To hear the Cuckoo sing Desperately seeking to grasp its grip But thus declared the king: ”You, a new-fangled fowler, Wish my art to feed your misery; Now feel free to devour it all, But you shall never catch me”